Entertainment
Baftas 2026 leave behind major A-list stars
The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards are shaping up to be one of the most talked-about ceremonies of the year, with the longlists revealing a mix of big international titles and some notable absences that have left fans and industry watchers debating who has been overlooked.
The longlists were published ahead of the official nominations, which will be unveiled on Jan. 27, and the ceremony itself is set for Feb. 22, 2026, at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London.
At the top of the list, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another dominates with a record-breaking 16 longlist mentions across major categories including best film and best director, led by Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance.
Other strong contenders such as Hamnet and Sinners also earned widespread recognition with 14 entries each.
However, the longlist announcement also sparked controversy among some fans, who pointed out that several major international films and stars have been pushed aside or left off key categories, leaving observers to question what it means for the British Academy’s selection process this awards season.
Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars left on the sidelines at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards are George Clooney, Dwayne Johnson and Julia Roberts, who failed to make the acting longlists, despite all three earning Golden Globe nominations for their latest performances.
Another example of a high-profile omission discussed in media coverage is Netflix’s Kpop Demon Hunters.
Despite being one of the most popular films of 2025, it did not make the longlist because it failed to meet BAFTA’s eligibility requirement for UK theatrical screenings.
This technicality left many streaming audiences surprised, and highlighted how awards qualification rules can affect which films are considered.
The upcoming final nominations will narrow these longlists down, determining who will compete for the top BAFTA trophies.
With films ranging from intimate dramas to global blockbusters, expectations are high, but the discussion around who’s included and who’s not will no doubt continue up to the awards night on 22 February.
Beloved character actor T.K. Carter, best known for his role as Nauls in John Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi horror classic The Thing, has died.
He was 69.
As reported by TMZ, the police confirmed that Carter was found at his home in Duarte, California, on Friday evening, January 9, following a welfare check.
However, there’s no sign of any foul play.
An official cause of death has not been released.
The actor’s career has spanned nearly five decades, highlighting his versatility across film and television.
His breakout role came as the resourceful cook Nauls in The Thing, starring opposite Kurt Russell. He became a household name as teacher Mike Fulton on the hit sitcom Punky Brewster and later as T-Bone on The Steve Harvey Show.
With his passing, there’s an immediate outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues online, who remembered him for his memorable performances and enduring screen presence.
He is survived by his wife, Janet Carter.
Tom Blyth is the actor people loved to see as the rom-com lead in People We Meet on Vacation, after his dark and broody aura in the cinema.
The 30-year-old actor, who made his mark as Dr. Snow in the Hunger Games prequel, was the playful, charismatic hero in the rom-com, and it won’t be the last fans see of him in this role.
Speaking to the press during the premiere of the movie, Blyth said, “I think I was just ready to do something fun. I’m ready to do something light.”
He elaborated on the shift in his career, saying, “I had done a lot of serious stuff back to back, and I was kind of ready to do something that was going to lift up my soul a little bit,” in conversation with Us Weekly.
Citing his inspirations for this role, he paid homage to the ‘80s classics – especially When Harry Met Sally, as well as You’ve Got Mail.
Blyth went on to say that it’s worthwhile to take a break from taking ourselves really seriously, adding that it’s important to “remind yourself that what we do for a living is playful and fun and a luxury and to lean into that, and lean into the love.”
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Actor T.K. Carter, star of ‘The Thing’ found dead at his home in Duarte
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